Friends of a Feather

February 1, 2015
Now that his best friend, Joseph, is out of the hospital and returning to school, second-grader Ty hopes things will be just as they used to be, but he finds that change is a normal part of life.Excitement and trepidation govern Ty Perry's mood in the first weeks at school when Joseph returns. Ty's expectations that their relationship will resume uninterrupted are confounded when Joseph's recovery induces much curiosity and attention from the rest of the class, leaving Ty confused, sometimes jealous and wondering if he can share his longtime friend. Focused on his own feelings and thoughts, Ty seems to ignore Joseph's reticence about his return and what he missed at school. An incident at a nursing home where Ty is visiting with his mother and the rescue of an injured wild bird force Ty to approach life more realistically, learn about responsibility, and in the end, appreciate and understand Joseph better. Ty is a somewhat self-centered 7-year-old; while this is developmentally appropriate, it also makes him hard to relate to, unlike such chapter-book age-mates as Stephanie Greene's Owen Foote and Lenore Look's Alvin Ho. Given his solipsism, his insightful revelation at the end-"Things change and life goes on and it's not always easy"-is quite the mature conclusion.Humor and humility mark Ty's arc in his third outing. (Fiction. 6-9)

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May 1, 2015

Gr 2-4-Ty's best friend Joseph is coming back to school after spending months in the hospital being treated for leukemia. Ty is beside himself with excitement, ready to jump back into favorite activities with his pal. Unfortunately, Joseph is the center of attention in their second grade class and Ty finds himself frustrated and maybe a tiny bit jealous. As in the past entries, Ty's warm-hearted attitude and authenticity shine through. A generous typeface, sporadic illustrations, and short chapters make this series a fine choice for independent readers .

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 2-4 Ty's best friend Joseph, now cancer-free, is out of the hospital and back in their classroom, where everyone clusters around him. Ty feels awkward talking with Joseph at first, but a shared adventure and a new perspective help to restore their bond while leaving room for others as well. The third book in the Life of Ty series offers a lively portrayal of school and family dynamics, narrated by a second-grader. From Ty's decision to fake an injury to his mother's admission that grown-ups mess up, Myracle's characters struggle with their insecurities and flaws in ways that will engage early chapter-book readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)